Farmers and ranchers looking to make improvements to land you own or lease need to check with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). They offer voluntary programs to eligible landowners and producers that provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources sustainably. Through these programs NRCS approves contracts that provide financial assistance in helping plan and implement conservation practices …
North Carolina Hog Farmers Monitoring Rising Flood Waters
Hog farmers in North Carolina are watching with great concern the still-rising flood waters brought by the historic impact of Hurricane Florence. Efforts continue in affected areas to provide feed and care for animals, and fuel to power farms, while ensuring safety for our farm families and farm employees. On-farm assessments and industry aerial surveys conducted today determined that flood …
Farm Bill Delay Possible as Deadline Looms
The farm bill deadline at the end of the month could pass without a new farm bill or an extension. As the pace of the farm bill committee stalls, leadership says the actual deadline that would have any impact on farm country is in December, if the bill is stalled further. The committee has a deadline of September 30th to …
Tariffs Harming Ag Equipment Makers
More tariffs in the tit-for-tat trade war between the U.S. and China means more suffering for agriculture and agricultural equipment makers. Feeling the brunt of the trade war since it started with tariffs on steel and aluminum, manufacturers of agriculture equipment are eager to see a swift resolve. Just last week, a coalition of manufacturing groups and associations sent a …
Trump China Trade War Troubling Talks with Japan
The ongoing trade war with China is threatening trade relations with Japan. Reuters reports that the start of a second round of trade talks between Japan and the United States will be delayed until after fresh tariffs imposed on China by the United States come into force on September 24th. Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Trump were expected …
Canada Returns to DC for NAFTA Talks
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations between the U.S. and Canada resume this week as both sides attempt to reach a deal by the end of the month. Canada’s Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland arrived in Washington, DC Tuesday ahead of scheduled talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. The two sides must agree to a “handshake” agreement by the …
Hurricane Florence Flooding Impacting Poultry Operations
Sanderson Farms says flooding from hurricane Florence has resulted in the loss of about 1.7 million broiler chickens. In a statement, the company says about 30 farms housing more than 200,000 chickens each are isolated by floodwaters and cannot be reached by feed trucks. The company says 60 of the 880 broiler houses in the region have been flooded. Tyson …
State Funnels More Money to Addressing Water Woes
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is pumping another $4 million into efforts to help local communities suffering from red tide and a massive algae outbreak, raising spending to $13 million for the water problems. The agency’s money will be used in Pinellas, Manatee, Collier, Sarasota, Lee and Martin counties. The added spending, announced Tuesday by Gov. Rick Scott’s office, …
Report Shows Florida Agriculture, Natural Resources and Food Industries Grew 2007-2016
The latest installment of an annual report from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences reveals some good news about the state’s economy – from 2007 to 2016, the portion of Florida’s Gross State Product (GSP) generated by agriculture, natural resources and food industries grew at a faster rate than the state’s total GSP, a statistic commonly …
USDA Announces Investment to Expand Markets for Specialty Crop and Other Farmers
Under Secretary Greg Ibach announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $102.7 million to increase opportunities for farmers, ranchers and other growers across the country through five grant programs. The funding supports a variety of locally-led projects intended to expand markets for local food promotion and specialty crops. “Every state has agricultural priorities that contribute to the …